Fiberglass or Aluminium body

[Rickd]

The used Kirkham you referenced for $77,000 is a great price for a superb car. Any new well laid out Sueprformance is going to mid $50's or more. For all of the effort - trans shipping to Europe etc., I wouldn't hesitate to go for the superior car - the Kirkham without a doubt. Visit their shop and take a deposit check. It will be one of the best things you ever did - car related.

[1985 CCX]

Lets not get confused here!
An SPF is a factory built car with very high std's but it is not nearly as accurate as an KMS. Better comparison would be SPF to glass CSX6000. When comparing the body of SPF to a KMS include the correct 427 frame by KMS, floor mounted pedalbox (tough with those long legged folks), trunk accuracy and a host of other internal Ally panel detail. SPF does not have any of this.

This is not a simple Ally body to Glass body comparison. This is really apples and oranges.

Better compare CSX4000 glass to CSX4000 ally. My vote Ally if you have the means.

[tkb289]

In my opinion, and to echo the above ... it really comes down to (2) things ...

- What do you like ?
- What can you afford ?

If you prefer an aluminum car and have the means to make it happen, go for it. In the end, beauty and value are in the eye of the beholder.

Or ... if you want to look at it another way ... go for a SPF, ERA or find a deal on a CSX 4000 glass car and take the extra $20K to $30K that would have been spent on a aluminum car ... and get a '65-'68 Fastback Mustang to add to your fleet

- Tim

[mhacars]

I had the same decision to make when I was looking to start my Cobra project. I ended up opting for an aluminum CSX car as I wanted something as close to history as possible. It also depends on what you plan to do with the car. I am more of a collector type and have not really driven it so body damage has not been an issue. If I had to do it all over again, I would select the same route without hesitation.

[Igofastr]

BTW, the Kirkham is sold. On it's way to France I believe.

[427PMS]

The Hi-tech car that was listed really was nice if its still available . I dont think you could go wrong with that one at all IMO. I wish I was still searching cause I would have been after that one pretty hard

[Ronbo]

There's a little more to a Kirkham than just a pretty skin, the suspension for one thing. About the only thing you could call a disadvantage is the original style frame.

Although originaly not in my sights (or budget), I kept going back the KM site and I finally just caved in. No regrets, even though I spent almost double what I planned on.

Nothing rational about buying one of these cars anyway, might as well embrace the insanity.

[RodKnock]

The OP can compare the fiberglass CSX 4000's/6000's to the SPF's, ERA's, BDR's, or a Kirkhams, if he wants too. The comparison is relevant because they are all Cobras or Cobra replicas. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them, whether aluminum versus fiberglass.

[lloyds1]

Don't forget about carbon fiber. There is a thread about a guy building them in Texas here somewhere.

[*13*]

Carbon Fiber is for bicycles & formula one cars

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by lloyds1

Don't forget about carbon fiber. There is a thread about a guy building them in Texas here somewhere.

Aluminum is beautiful, although the brushed/polished look is not for me. However, ALUMINUM DENTS. If you live an area where hail is even a remote possibility, don't get it... Don't say you won't drive it in the storms - you get caught. I was out twice this summer where I got pommeled by hail. One time it was bad enough to cut my ears (I had a baseball cap or my forehead would have been hurt too) by hail that was between shooter marble and golf ball before I got under a tree. The car didn't show even a minor scratch. You can't outrun it!

My choice of the Carbon Fiber CSX was deliberate!!!

[rustyBob]

I really like the aluminum cars polished or brushed.............
but half the fun of my build was decieding on what color to paint my car.......

[Dwight]

aluminum ==== painted



I can only afford fiberglass

Dwight

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rustyBob

I really like the aluminum cars polished or brushed.............
but half the fun of my build was decieding on what color to paint my car.......

One of the main selling points for me was that I knew I wouldn't have to pick a color with the aluminum body. My car would still be at the paint shop while I vacillated on which blue or red. I remember buying like 6+ cans of spray paint from a Hemmings vendor trying to figure out which color to paint my old Sunbeam Tiger. Thank goodness for bare aluminum.

[CCX 33239]

There seems to be a number of comments using "aluminum (polished or brushed)" and "originality" in the same sentence or paragraph, as if they are one in the same. Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)! Just a question?

Regardless, as has already been said numerous times, the bottomline is personal preference and whether YOU like the car. Go for it!

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by CCX 33239

Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)!

You are correct in that (usually) the only time an original went sans paint is was when it was in between color changes.

However, in CSX2000's first set of publicity photos and the first test drive of it by a magazine (SCG), it was just "brillo'ed up" very nicely...with no paint.

I would attribute the contemporary popularity of bare aluminum, unpainted drivers to Tom Kirkham, who ran his first 427 for years with a rough sanded finish and to Jamo, who dubbed it the "BNL" (Bare Naked Lady) and set the standard for street driven, unpainted cars.

The rest just followed.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by computerworks

You are correct in that (usually) the only time an original went sans paint is was when it was in between color changes.

However, in CSX2000's first set of publicity photos and the first test drive of it by a magazine (SCG), it was just "brillo'ed up" very nicely...with no paint.

I would attribute the contemporary popularity of bare aluminum, unpainted drivers to Tom Kirkham, who ran his first 427 for years with a rough sanded finish and to Jamo, who dubbed it the "BNL" (Bare Naked Lady) and set the standard for street driven, unpainted cars.

The rest just followed.

Wasn't CS driving around the first of the infamous completion cars in bare aluminum (except for the painted racing number "98") first?

[REAL 1]

The OP is entitled to compare whatever he wants to whatever he wants. He can compare a head of cabbage to an SPF if he wants. I don't care actually.

I just pointed out that there are significant differences and advantages IMHO in owning a CSX 6000 Cobra to a SPF.

As to the popularity of the the bare aluminium cars have attained I think it is more accurately ascribed to Carroll Shelby's bare aluminum #98 427 Cobra which I beleive was supposed to be a completion Cobra rather then the Kirkham Cobra.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

As to the popularity of the the bare aluminium cars have attained I think it is more accurately ascribed to Carroll Shelby's bare aluminum #98 427 Cobra which I beleive was supposed to be a completion Cobra rather then the Kirkham Cobra.

No, because nobody followed that trend for the 10+ years after that...until Tom and Jamo ran BNL's.

It's not a question of who was first, because CSX2000 was first in 1962... it's a question of who set the trend.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by CCX 33239

There seems to be a number of comments using "aluminum (polished or brushed)" and "originality" in the same sentence or paragraph, as if they are one in the same. Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)! Just a question?

I could have missed it somewhere in our posts, but I don't remember anyone stating that a bare aluminum car is/was how the original series came. However, I did say that an aluminum body Kirkham or a modern era CSX moves the needle on the authenticity meter closer to an original 60's series Cobra.

Nonetheless, the modern alloy bodies produced by Kirkham can be left unpainted since the bodywork is flawless or near flawless, especially when compared to what others have said and written about the alloy bodies of the original 60's series Cobra. I don't think those could have been left unpainted and sold to the public. I will let the historians and experts correct me, if necessary.